 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Patty,
I had a trach and it was taken out approx. 5 days after my surgery. It took about 3 weeks to totally close and I kept it covered with some folded over 4x4's, then covered that again with gauze and tape. Use gentle tape as it can hurt the skin on the neck. I was told that if I kept my hand over the dressing when I talked and pushed on the folded over 4x4's that I used to put over the hole, that it would close up quicker. I hated, hated, hated that trach area and was so happy when it healed.
My neck is still numb in areas but I have grown use to it and hardly notice it at all unless I get one of the weird itches or tingles that Mark described. My shoulder is fine and my neck was stiff for a few months after but has gradually gotten better. I can look over both shoulders now!
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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